Explosions, gunfire near Afghan presidential candidate's home

Monday, March 24, 2014 - 01:02

March 25 - Officials say suicide bombers attacked a building next to the house of Afghan presidential candidate Ashraf Ghani and engaged in a gun battle with security guards protecting his home. Sarah Toms reports.

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Suicide bombers attack a building close to the home of Ashraf Ghani, a leading candidate in Afghanistan's presidential elections.
The focus of the attack was the provincial election head quarters.
But Ghani's house was also hit and a gun battle raged with insurgents as security guards tried to protect his home.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) ZOHRA NAWABI, PROVINCIAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE; SAYING:
"The purpose of this attack is to disrupt the upcoming election process, as we are all hearing the gunfire I urge the people of Afghanistan to recognize the enemies. We should not keep silent; we should all stand against the brutal act of our enemies."
Gun fire could still be heard an hour later in the area, which was cordoned off by police.
Ghani, a former World Bank official was not at home at the time.
The attack is the latest in the run-up to the 5 April election to choose a successor to Hamid Karzai.
The Taliban, which has claimed responsibility, is boycotting the election and has vowed to disrupt the vote.